South Africa women's national soccer team

History

Banyana Banyana's first official match was held on 30 May 1993 against Eswatini, which they won 14–0. Future Women's AFCON winning coach Desiree Ellis played in that game and scored three of the goals

Their first international match outside of Africa was against China. They played two matches which they lost 8–0 and 13–0 with the latter being the heaviest defeat in their history. The team's first victory over a nation outside of Africa was in 2000, where they beat Scotland by 2–0. This was at the Cyrus Women's Cup.

South Africa's biggest win came in a COSAFA Women's Championship match in Gqeberha on 31 July 2019, when they beat the Comoros 17–0. Captain Refiloe Jane scored 4 of the goals.

Olympic Games

They qualified for Olympic football for the first time in 2012, with coach Joseph Mkhonza. Their second Olympic participation was at 2016's Rio Olympics, under coach Vera Pauw.

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Banyana appeared in 14 CAF Women's Championships (Now known as Women's AFCON) and were runners up on five occasions (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018) and third at two events (2006 and 2010), before eventually winning their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, beating Morocco 2–1 in the final.

FIFA Women's World Cup

Coached by Desiree Ellis, they qualified for their first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019, in Group B with Germany, Spain and China. However, they lost all matches, and their only goal was against Spain when they went to a 1–0 lead only to lose 3–1.

South Africa qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup again in 2023, also coached by Desiree Ellis. During the group stages they lost 2–1 to Sweden after leading 1–0, drew 2–2 against Argentina after leading 2–0, but finally defeated Italy 3–2 and advanced to the Round of 16 for the very first time. They eventually lost 2–0 to the Netherlands. Following the team's performance, Desiree Ellis would win the 2023 award for CAF Women's Coach of the Year.

The top goal scorers at world cups are Thembi Kgatlana with 3, Hildah Magaia with 2, while Linda Motlhalo also scored one. South Africa's other goal was an own goal by Italy in 2023.

COSAFA Women's Championship

South Africa competed in all eleven COSAFA Women's Championships – a tournament featuring nations from the Southern African region – since its inception in 2002. They have won seven titles (in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), finished second twice (in 2011 and 2022) and only failed to win a medal twice, when they finished fourth in 2021 and exited in the group stages 2023.

In later years, because of South Africa's success and increased participation in bigger world events, management started sending newcomers to COSAFA tournaments, to broaden their talent pool. This contributed to a decline in Banyana Banyana's dominance at this event.

Team image

Nicknames

The South Africa women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as "Banyana Banyana", which literally translates to "Girls Girls", but such double use is often interpreted to mean "all the girls". In the context of sport, it is also understood to mean "go girls, go girls".

This name is derived from the Senior Men's National team being "Bafana Bafana" which also literally means "the boys the boys". The nickname came into existence from fans shouting "bafana bafana" to mean "go boys, go boys" as encouragement during the South Africa men's team's first international game after many years of sporting isolation due to Apartheid policies in 1992, when they beat Cameroon 1–0 in Durban. The name stuck, and the female form was later applied to the women's team as well.

Naming rights

The team is currently branded as "Sasol Banyana Banyana", based on a multi-year financial investment in the team by Sasol.[[File:Equipe sud africaine.jpg|alt=Banyana Banyana 2022 WAFCON|thumb|Banyana Banyana starting XI at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.]]

Results and fixtures

Main article: South Africa women's national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

;Legend

2025

• Ntoane
• Simayile
• Mthandi
• Motlhalo
• Magaia
• Motau
• Chikupira
• Mibe
• Seoposenwe
• Radiakanyo
• Moloi
• Gamede
• Seoposenwe
• Motlhalo
• Seoposenwe
• Clement
• Katunzi
• Chenge
• Mbane
• Cesane
• Mbane
• Ramalepe
• Jane
• Magaia
• Donnelly
• Dhlamini
• Makhubela
• Salgado
• Mbane
• Diop
• N. Ndiaye
• Kandé
• Ajibade
• Alozie
• Motlhalo
• Dlamini
• Mthandi
• Chantelle
• Kusi
• Bonsu
• Cudjoe
• Amoh
• Motlhalo
• Mbane
• Holweni
• Magaia
• Seoposenwe
• Kipoyi
• Mohlakoana Kgatlana
• Mthandi
• Cesane

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Technical staff

Manager history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the international friendly against Morocco from 28 November to 4 December 2025.

Recent call ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

;Notes

• ALT = Alternate
• INJ = Withdrew due to injury
• MED = Withdrew due to medical reasons
• PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
• RET = Retired from the national team SUS = Serving suspension -- TOP = Train-on player -- UNV = Unavailable for selection -- WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue --

Previous squads

;Turkish Women's Cup

• 2023 Turkish Women's Cup squads

Records

:Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Honours

Major competitions

• Africa Women Cup of Nations
  • [[File:Coppa Africa.svg|20px]] Champions: 2022
  • [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up: 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018
  • [[File:Med 3.png]] Third place: 2006, 2010

Continental

• African Games****1
  • [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up: 2003, 2007

Regional

• COSAFA Women's Championship
  • [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions: 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
  • [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up: 2011, 2022

1. Competition organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, officially not recognized by FIFA.

: [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions: : [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up: : [[File:Med 3.png]] Third place:

Awards

• CAF National Team of the Year (Women): 2017, 2022
• Women's Africa Cup of Nations Fair play: 2014, 2022, 2024
• African Union Sports Council Region: Team of the Year: 2019

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Main article: South Africa at the FIFA Women's World Cup

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Africa Women Cup of Nations

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

African Games

COSAFA Women's Championship

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

The list shown below shows the women's South Africa national soccer team's all−time international record against opposing nations.

*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx. ;Key

Record per opponent

*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx. ;Key

The following table shows South Africa's all-time official international record per opponent:

References

References

1. (2025-10-27). "Nozipho Mbatha: Sasol and SAFA partnership will propel Banyana Banyana to greater heights {{!}} soccer".
2. "Desiree Ellis: How a trailblazing coach lifted S African football". [[Al Jazeera English.
3. (10 August 2017). "Reflecting on Banyana Banyana". SAFA Official Website.
4. "Record breaking Banyana thrash Comoros 17–0 in opening COSAFA clash". [[News24 (website).
5. "Africa's World Cup women raise unfair pay and sexual abuse – DW – 07/18/2023".
6. (12 September 2011). "Banyana secure historic passage to London". [[FIFA]].
7. (24 July 2022). "How South Africa finally won its first Africa Women Cup of Nations title". Equalizer Soccer.
8. "Banyana Banyana Qualifies for the Knockouts". [[News24 (website).
9. (2023-12-11). "Victor Osimhen And Asisat Oshoala Win African Footballer Of The Year Prizes On Big Night For Nigeria At 2023 CAF Awards Ceremony". Sports Illustrated.
10. Shozi, Asanda. (2023-10-11). "Banyana beat Eswatini but Bow Out of COSAFA Women's Champs".
11. (16 August 2022). "Dludlu To Lead Banyana At COSAFA Cup, Calls Up New-Look Squad". iDiski Times.
12. Online, Central News. (2025-10-24). "Sasol Renews Banyana Banyana Sponsorship Until 2029, Ending Uncertainty for SA Women’s Football Team {{!}} Central News South Africa".
13. (13 February 2019). "Amajita's success shows we are on the right track – SAFA President". [[South African Football Association]].
14. (17 September 2002). "New look Banyana squad named". [[Sport24]].
15. (31 March 2006). "Winds of change blow in Africa". [[FIFA]].
16. Mailwane, Tshepang. (3 May 2015). "Soccer heroes of '96 now shout the odds from touchlines". [[Sunday Times (South Africa).
17. Moholoa, Ramatsiyi. (28 July 2011). "Safa signs up Mkhonza full-time". [[The Sowetan]].
18. (8 October 2014). "Former Banyana Coach Ends SAFA Relationship".
19. Roberts, Cheryl. (20 September 2016). "Safa should go local with new Banyana coach". [[Independent Online (South Africa).
20. (22 February 2018). "Desiree Ellis named new Banyana coach". [[Sport24]].
21. (28 November 2025). "Sasol Banyana Banyana squad for Morocco friendlies".
22. Makhaya, Ernest. (2022-07-24). "Banyana Banyana confirmed as CAF National Team of the Year".
23. "WAFCON: South Africa, the Fairest of them all".
24. Dylan. (2019-05-27). "Banyana Banyana wins another Team of the Year award".